Joshua 6:1-5

1Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.2Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. 5 When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

You don’t get defeated by any obstacle that stands between you and GOD’s plan, GOD’s will, GOD’s best for your life.

Every obstacle that stands between us and GOD’s purpose and plan in our life subject to power of GOD.

Genesis 18:14

14Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

If nothing is too big for the LORD why do you worry and feel defeated?

Jeremiah 32:17, 27

17“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

27“I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

We narrow our focus to obstacle all we see is the obstacle.

We look at the obstacle in terms of our strength.

*Obstacles are opportunity for GOD to demonstrate His awesome power and it is an opportunity to teach His ways and removing the obstacles for His glory.

Much of GOD is invisible and silent and appear to be nothing to do with the obstacle before us.

Joshua 2:1, 9, 10

1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there.

9and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you.

10We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea ^a for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. ^b

*We must do what GOD tells us to do.

*Place your trust in GOD.

*GOD has already been working on the other side a great fear of you has fallen on us. GOD removes the obstacles.

Because of the unbelief they have missed the blessings of GOD because they didn’t trust the GOD. They saw it as obstacle, they saw as a point of defat and walked back in the wilderness.

*GOD will often times require spiritual preparation before He removes the obstacles we face.

GOD said to Joshua before you take Jericho you must be spiritually prepared.

Joshua 5

13Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14“Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord ^e have for his servant?”

15The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Joshua 1:2-5

2“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you

Exodus 3:4-5

4When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”

And Moses said, “Here I am.”

5“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

At times when we don’t know what to do here GOD appears into our life, assures us, comforts us, reminds us and keep His Word.

For spiritual preparation GOD removing obstacle for our behalf requires active obedience, repentance of all sin and fresh encounter with the LORD.

*GOD will give assurance of the removal of the obstacle even before He does it. How and when He would do is GOD’s.

GOD was using someone else to give Joshua word of encouragement. Live sensitive to Holy Spirit.

Joshua 2:24

24They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”

Joshua 6:1-2

1Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

2Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men.

*GOD will give us clear instruction as what we need to do. Keep diary, write it all down.

The Ark of the cabinet symbolised the presence and power of GOD. Marching around the city and be quite about it.

GOD instruction usually something we do not expect.

1. Courage to obey even we don’t understand it.
2. Faith to believe that He will do what He says He will do.
3. Patience to wait for His timing.

GOD always give specific, precise instruction. No matter what you are facing in life when GOD gives you instruction obey GOD. He will remove all the obstruction if you obey Him.

Do exactly what He says and keep with His timing you will be amazed. Write down what GOD is doing in your life and pass it onto next generation.